Project Access Washington County (PAWC) is a program that was started by Essential Health Clinic and now operates independently. PAWC is a nationally replicated model that coordinates a network of physicians who donate time and services to low-income, uninsured individuals. PAWC's objectives are:

• To create a network of volunteer physicians, hospitals, and ancillary providers to offer medical care to uninsured people living in Washington County.


• To organize and build on existing efforts to care for the uninsured in our community.


• To provide timely care to patients in order to improve patient health while reducing inappropriate use of emergency departments, hospitals, and other costly services.


• To provide a mechanism for valuing and recognizing the generosity of physicians, health care practitioners, hospitals, and other stakeholders.

PAWC enrolls patients with a specific primary or specialty care need upon screening and referral from Essential Health Clinic or an existing partner.

The Project Access program is neither an insurance product nor an entitlement program.
PAWC does not take patient self-referrals at this time. If you think you may be an appropriate referral to Project Access and are not currently being seen by a physician who participates you must first come to the Essential Health Clinic.

Project Access Washington County began enrolling patients in April 2008. By working together with the Washington County community, primary and specialty care physicians, and hospital and health systems, PAWC has become a success, connecting over 300 patients to care in the first year alone. PAWC works in collaboration with Project Access NOW and other county Project Access programs.

Throughout the country, Project Access has worked in over 50 communities to coordinate donated care for low-income, uninsured patients with a specific medical need. Project Access distributes patient load equitably and coordinates care and ancillary services, creating an easy and organized way to donate care and receive recognition for services physicians may already be providing.

Project Access strives to create a successful experience for both physician and patient by streamlining the process for giving and receiving donated care. Physicians are asked to make a voluntary limited commitment to a certain number of patients per year. Care Coordinators provide support to physicians and office staff to make caring for a Project Access patient similar to caring for an insured patient.

Patients who enroll sign an agreement regarding program expectations and their participation. Enrolled patients may continue in the program for the duration of their medical need. Financial eligibility criteria are checked every six months.

Project Access is not an insurance program, nor is it an entitlement program. There are strict requirements for patients participating in the program, and PAWC Staff screens all patients individually for eligibility. Working with a care coordinator for any needed support, patient interaction with physicians and other health care professionals is courteous, timely, and most of all, successful.

There are currently over 2,000 physicians involved in the Project Access effort in the Portland area.

This network includes primary and specialty care physicians, ancillary service providers, hospitals, health systems, and Pharmacy Bridge, a pharmacy benefits program. Individuals enrolled in Project Access receive a pharmacy card that allows them to fill prescriptions at local pharmacies from a limited generic formulary.

For more information or to volunteer with Project Access, please contact Katie Ulin, Program Manager:

Katie Ulin
Program Manager
503.413-5541 office
503.846.4522 fax
Katie@projectaccessnow.org

Visit the Project Access Now website: http://www.projectaccessnow.org/

Also see: www.coalitionclinics.org